Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy

E-government diffusion in Oman: a public sector employees' perspective : Table of Contents

Moaman Al-Busaidy, Vishanth Weerakkody — Mon Oct 05 11:22:02 BST 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – Although significant investments have been made, to date only limited progress has been made in terms of realising fully functional and integrated e-government services in Oman. The purpose of this paper is to identify the most salient factors that are currently influencing the development and diffusion of e-government in Oman as perceived by government employees involved in e-government service delivery. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a quantitative survey-based empirical study in three key public service agencies in Oman. Findings – This research reveals that improved accessibility, efficiency and availability of public services may lead to high levels of confidence among citizens in relation to e-government adoption in Oman. The study also finds that Omani information technology workforce capability has an indirect impact on citizens' trust and confidence in using e-services. Research limitations/implications – The research focuses on the views of government employees and therefore the results represent only the views of e-government service providers; these views may be influenced by their own experience, background and attitude towards online services. Practical implications – In order to realise the vision of implementing e-government in Oman, ten key factors are identified in this study that may serve as a starting point for decision makers and implementers. Decision makers and implementers can draw from best practices in the region and rest of the world in terms of addressing the ten factors discussed in the study. Originality/value – The study analyses the salient factors influencing e-government adoption in Oman from the service providers perspective and compares these with previously published literature on e-government adoption that take a citizen centric perspective. This research strategy offers a new and more balanced perspective of e-government adoption and diffusion in Oman.

Impact of PPPs to broadband diffusion in Europe : Table of Contents

Christoph Lattemann, Stefan Stieglitz, Sören Kupke, Anna-Maria Schneider — Mon Oct 05 11:22:02 BST 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – Broadband access plays a major role for economic growth and for social and cultural development of urban and rural areas. A provision of broadband infrastructure and services in these areas is not attractive for private investments because of a low or even negative expected rate on return. The purpose of this paper is to identify different modes of public private partnership (PPP) funding and organizational models of collaborations among public and private partners to establish broadband infrastructures. Decision makers get insights about innovative financial and structural models to bring broadband into rural areas. Design/methodology/approach – Organizational and financial structures of PPP projects will be analyzed by six PPP case studies from the broadband sector in Sweden, Great Britain, and France. This research adopts a data triangulation approach. Findings – A comparative case study analysis about “broadband-PPPs” from different countries depicts that the organizational and financial funding models differ from project to project. PPPs represent a good alternative to build a broadband infrastructure through mutual collaboration between public and private partners. The examined case studies verify that a PPP is an appropriate instrument to implement broadband infrastructures, especially in case of market failure. Research limitations/implications – The paper is mainly based on case studies. Thus, the significance of the derived results is limited. Practical implications – Companies in the sector of telecommunication as well as decision makers learn about different financing models to implement broadband in rural areas and to increase broadband penetration. Originality/value – This contribution shows that there are relationships among three key factors of PPPs: environmental conditions (risk, social structures, density of population, etc.), organizational model, and funding modes. This knowledge helps researchers and decision makers to measure different scenarios to bring broadband access into rural areas.

Observations on the UK transformational government strategy relative to citizen data sharing and privacy : Table of Contents

Colin Combe — Mon Oct 05 11:22:02 BST 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – One of the key aims of the UK's Transformational Government strategy is to create a “joined-up” government where communications within and between public organisations is improved by the use of information technology. Data sharing is a key enabler of “joined-up” government but the implementation of the strategy presents a series of risks. The purpose of this paper is to articulate and assess the nature of those risks in relation to violations of existing laws using the National Pupil Database (NPD) in England as a case study. Design/methodology/approach – The paper investigates examples of violations of EU law relating to rights to privacy of data sharing practices within the UK public sector using an interpretive approach to existing published information. The case of the NPD illustrates how certain identified data sharing practices contravene existing laws and exposes this aspect of the Transformational Government strategy to heightened risk of a legal challenge. Findings – Four examples of violations of existing EU laws on privacy are identified from an investigation into the NPD for schools in England. The analysis exposes the imbalance between the data sharing practices underpinning the Transformational Government strategy in the UK and the requirements for fulfilling privacy protection rights to citizens enshrined in EU law. The findings reveal that data sharing practices as a key enabler of the Transformational Government strategy risks violating existing laws designed to protect privacy. The UK government risks a legal challenge, the outcome of which may seriously undermine the prospects for achieving the stated aim of improving efficiency and effectiveness across the public sector. Research limitations/implications – The paper is largely restricted to the NPD for schools in England. The findings would be strengthened by expanding the research into other areas of the public sector where data sharing practices have been implemented. Originality/value – The findings are a significant and timely contribution to understanding the data sharing/privacy tension that ministers and legislators need to address. The work provides an insight into where weaknesses exist within current arrangements that is of value to policymakers, legislators, human rights advocates and government authorities at both central and local levels.

An analysis of e-Participation research: moving from theoretical to pragmatic viewpoint : Table of Contents

Muhammad Mustafa Kamal — Mon Oct 05 11:22:02 BST 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the research conducted in the area of electronic participation (e-Participation). Design/methodology/approach – The paper investigates and assesses both theoretical and pragmatic findings published in the normative literature. Findings – The synthesis of the research findings exemplifies that the foremost dominant research studies to e-Participation advocated and conducted by several researchers are: theoretical perspective on e-Participation; e-Participation technological solutions; governance models in public administration; policy making lifecycle models; and location-based e-Participation services. Analysis of these research studies has identified a literature void requiring a new stream of research mainly focusing on developing a ubiquitous platform that allows citizens to be involved in government policy-making processes (PMPs). Research limitations/implications – The combination of theoretical conceptions, analysis of the normative literature and empirical findings presented in this paper illustrates the start of research on e-Participation. However, the theoretical and empirical findings accumulated accentuate that one of the reasons that make citizens de-motivated in participating in the policy making, is the ignorance of relevant policies and PMPs in government sector. Therefore, it is suggested that the more the citizens find connections between their anticipated activities and relevant policies, the more they become pro-active to be involved in government PMPs. Originality/value – The prime significance and uniqueness of the research presented in this paper lies in proposing a platform that allows citizens to participate in government PMPs regardless of their current locations and time. This has been achieved by analysing and synthesising existing research studies theorised in the normative literature. The proposed platform aims to provide context aware knowledge provision with regards to policy making. That is citizens using this platform will be alerted to relevant policies and PMPs when they are moving around physical places according to their as-usual life pattern at the work, commerce, education, etc.

Exploring citizens' perception of government to citizen services: A model based on theory of planned behaviour (TBP) : Table of Contents

Irfan Emrah Kanat, Sevgi Özkan — Mon Oct 05 11:22:02 BST 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of undertaking a systemic view of evaluating the success of government to citizen (G2C) services and identifying the salient factors related with citizens' low adoption of G2C services. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts a quantitative case perspective and derives a conceptual research model that encompasses various dimensions of e-government that relate to citizen adoption behaviour within the framework of theory of planned behaviour (TPB). The model is empirically tested for validity and reliability. Findings – Quantitative findings have been presented, which will be valuable for academics and practitioners doing research in identifying factors for e-government adoption. Research limitations/implications – Further research efforts should explore new dimensions or test the causal relationships among proposed factors within the boundary of e-government. In that, the paper is limited contextually where attention should be made not to generalise the findings beyond the empirical findings within the case analysis. Practical implications – The paper supports a practitioner perspective through a consideration of a holistic approach to e-government adoption that relate to citizen adoption behaviour. e-Government system developers may find the findings useful when designing and implementing an e-government system. Originality/value – The paper is original and is the first phase of a research study. It provides an innovative approach to e-government adoption based on TPB.